Improvement in rocking apparatus



J'. N. FowL-ER.'

Improvement in Rockiffg Apparatus.

No. 121,094. .SWK Paiented Nov. 21,1811.

Mmmm 9 12noon JOHN N. FOWLEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

.IMPROVEMENT IN ROCKING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,094, dated November 21, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. FowLnR, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain Improved Machine for Recreation by Children and others, which may be termed a Rocking-Swing, of which the following is a specification The swing may be used by two persons at a time or by only one. When it is used by two the two may be of equal or of wide-differing weights. It is capable of being folded in a small compass for storing or transportation.

Tdt following is a detailed description of what VI consider the best means of carrying out the support for the rocking part. Certain parts are marked A1, A2, &c., to distinguish them. The principal frames marked A are two pieces' of wood or other suitable material mounted in parallel positions, each presenting a regularly-curved or arched form. They are connected by firm crossbars A1 A2, and these latter are connected by a longitudinal piece, A3, which extends lengthwise of the frame-work, and forms an adjustable attachment for certain springs, which will be described further on. The bases of the arched pieces A A rest at one end directly upon the iioor or ground. At the other end they rest on movable arms A4, which are capable of being turned around on vertical pivots a., shown in dotted lines. These arms A4 may be turned inward, as shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate transportation. Themachine may be used with the arms in this position under ordinary circumstances, but when in consequence of a superior weight on that end of the rocking portion, or in consequence of the violent rocking of a vigorous child, there is danger of the entire machine tilting over the arms or movable base pieces A4 should be extended by turning them on the piv ots a, as centers, and be caused to stand in the position shown in Fig. 2. B represents the rocker-frame. Some parts are marked B1, Ste., to distinguish them. The principal part is composed of twoparallel rockers or inverted arches, B B, mounted and adapted to roll upon the arches A. They are connected by stout crosspieces B1 B2. A peculiarly-formed yoke piece, B3, is firmly bolted at each end to the cross-pieces Bl B2 and extends around under the cross-pieces Al A2 and the central longitudinal piece A3 and their several attachments, as represented. (l1 O2 are grooved pulleys mounted in spring brackets D1 D?, which latter are mortised into the crosspieces Al A2 and rest on coiled or other springs in the bottom of said mortises so that the brackets and the attached pulleys are capable of yielding by the elastic action of the springs. The grooves in the pulleys G1 O2 match to the inner face of the curved portions of the yoke B3. As the rocker B and its attachments move in alternately opposite directions the yoke B3 plays lup and down each side and turned the grooved pulleys G1 C2. The lower portion of the yoke B3 strikes against an adjustable spring, E, which is made by preference of several thin plates or leaves like a portion of a carriage-spring, but the material should be thin, so as to yield with moderate force. This spring is curved, as represented,` and is conned adjustably by a screw, e, and nut e1, which may be operated by hand or any suitable wrench or the like. The screw or bolt e is provided with a large washer, c2, under its head, and is capable of being adjusted backward and forward in a slot in the piece A3, as will be obvious. When the nut e1 is slackened the screwbolt e may be changed backward and forward in the slots, and the spring E may be changed backward and .forward relatively to it. This latter movement is eifected by means of a long slot in each several leaf of the spring E. The construction allows the spring E to be adjusted both in its force and in its position so that when the rocker-frame B and its attachments rock in one direction, so as to make the seat M2 the lowest,

the force of the spring E will be felt to arrest its further motion in that direction, and will be felt earlier or later, or more powerfully or less powerfully, according to the adjustment. This matter ofthe adjustment of this spring is very important in practice, and may be facilitated by the employment of various devices not necessary to represent, such as graduations marked'properly on the frame to indicate the adjustment for children of different weights or ages. It will be understood by mechanics that when the nut e1 is unscrewed the shifting of the spring E to the left in Fig. l will make it press upon the yoke B3 earlier, and that the shifting in the oppositedirection will make it commence to act later. It will be also understood that by shifting the entire bolt e and its connected spring to the left in the slot, the other adjustment or length of the spring being the same, the leverage of the spring or the effect of its action on the yoke B3, ai@ consequently its effect on the entire rocking parts will be increased, while by shifting these parts to the right the eect will be diminished. It is thus easy to secure a proper adjustment for any load. Gr is another spring, which may be also made of several leaves, if preferred, but its duties are less important. It is mounted on the upper side of the longitudinal central, bar A3, and arrests the motion of the rocking parts in the opposite direction. The function of this spring Gr is purely to arrest the motion gently and throw it back with a lively motion in the opposite direction. I may add that the same effect is also induced by the other spring E, in addition to its function of adjustably balancing any inequality in the loads on the opposite ends of the rocking part B. M1 M2 are folding-seats hinged to the respective ends of vthe rocking parts B, and adapted each to accommodate a child or grown person, according to the size of the machine. When the weight in the seats M1 and M2 are about equal the bolt c should be shifted as far to the left as possible and the springE held thereby should be shifted along' to the right. The result will be a short and stiff spring E, but only commencing to act at a very late period in the descent of the seat M2. Under these conditions the action of the spring E underneath will be very similar to the action of the spring G above. Each will only exert its force at the very last part of the rocking motion in the one direction or the other, and will simi ply soften the shock at the end of the motion and throw the rocking part actively in the op posite direction. When one person is much heavier than the other the heavier must always take the seat M2.

I will suppose, for an extreme case, that a child or other person is to rock alone. Place him in the seat M2 and that end of the rocking partB and its attachments will be depressed. Now, the spring E and its adjustable attachment e must be shifted so as to give the spring E a long action and cause it to commence its action early. "These changes are effected by shifting the bolt e tothe right and drawing the spring E to the left. When the proper point is attained the seats M1 M2 will stand about even or level with each other when the machine is at rest, the force of the spring E balancing or nearly balancing the excess of weight in the seat M2. Now, thus adjusted, the rocker B and its connections may be operated about the same as if the two ends were evenly loaded. The force of the spring E will bear during a good part of each vibration with such force on the yoke -B3 as to about equalize the action. It will be understood that there may be adjustable footboards to accommodate children or persons of different sizes, and that any suitable fastening means may be provided for insuring the safety of the children in the exciting and highly pleasurable use of the machine. rlhe bottom of the lixed part A and turnable arms A4 .may be shod with rough leather, felt, or the like to prevent its slipping on a carpet. The yoke B3, in addition to its functions of guiding the rocker B and its attachments so as to keep the parts properly in place upon the stand A A, and of receiving the action of the adjustable spring E, and balancing the overloaded end of the rocker, also serves to connect the entire rocker and stand together in transporting or removing the machine about. If a domestic or other attendant lifts the machine by the rocker B the entire frame A necessarily is lifted with it by the action of the curved portions of the yoke B3 against the slightly elastically-mounted pulleys G1 O2, as will be obvious on inspection. I propose in some cases to provide a grooved roller on the end of the spring E to reduce the friction on the yoke B3. I also propose in high-priced machines to employ a screw to urge the spring E to the right orleft, so that its position and force may be adjusted with more facility and greater delicacy. I propose, also in some cases to have the top of the stand A flat instead of arched, the yoke B3 being correspondingly modified. So long as the yoke B3 is curved exactly with the proper curvature to correspond with the motion there will be no function performed by the spring behind the brackets D1 D2, except deadening the sound of the pulleys C1 C2. But if, as may often be the case after the construction has been some time in use, the curvature does not agree eX- actly with the motion then the yielding of those springs allows for the slight discrepancy. I propropose is some cases to make the spring-brackets D1 D2 longer, and to mount in each two grooved pulleys, one inside of the yoke, as here shown, and the other outside.` The latter will bear against the curved exterior of the yoke B3 and aid to keep the parts working truly and smoothly; but I do not consider them necessary in ordinary cheap forms of the construction.

Any part not here described or shown, it will be understood, may be made in any ordinary or suitable manner. rlhis may include cushions, fastenings for children, and all kindred devices.

I claim as my inventionl. The folding-seats M1 M2 on the rocker B, in combination with the stand A, and arranged to operate thereon, as and for the purposes specified.

2. The yoke-piece B3, formed and arranged as represented, to act on guide-pulleys G1 C2, and to serve relatively to the rocker B and seats M1 M2, as and for the purposes specified.

3. The spring E and adjustable fastening e, arranged and adapted to operate relatively to the rocker B and seats M1 M2, working on the stand A, as specified.

4. The extensible base pieces A4 A4 on the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my roekerstand A7 arranged to serve as represented name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

relatively to the rocker B andseats M1 M27 for J. N. FOWLER. the purposes speoied. Witnesses:

5. The entire combination of the roekerB With its folding-seats M1 M2, and yoke B3 With the C. C. LIVINGS,

stand A,'extensib1e feet A47 guide-pulleys C1 C2, ARNOLD HOERMANN. (143) and springs E- Gr, as specified. y 

